ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A total of seven cownose stingrays have been successfully transported to their new home at The Florida Aquarium following a recent storm, Hurricane Milton, which they weathered in a touch tank at Tropicana Field, the home venue for the MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays.
The stingrays, identifiable by their distinctive cow-shaped snouts, were moved on Monday from the baseball park after enduring the effects of last week’s hurricane, as per a statement released by the aquarium located in Tampa. Despite the severe winds from Milton that caused significant damage to the stadium’s fabric roof, the stingrays were unharmed during the ordeal.
“We’re happy to share that the cownose stingrays managed the storm very well. With the invaluable assistance from the Tampa Bay Rays, our staff provided onsite care in the days following the storm, allowing us to safely return them to the aquarium today,” expressed Craig Johnson, who serves as the associate curator at The Florida Aquarium.
During the MLB season, these stingrays reside in a 10,000-gallon touch tank situated above right-center field at Tropicana Field, which has become a favored attraction for fans. With the conclusion of the baseball season and the team not in playoffs, the stingrays are now settled in a dedicated exhibit area at The Florida Aquarium.
Since 2006, stingrays from the aquarium have been a highlight in the touch tank at the ballpark, and the cownose stingray species is often found in the coastal waters surrounding Tampa Bay.
The Tampa Bay Rays are not set to return to Tropicana Field until March 27, when they will face off against the Colorado Rockies in the opening game of the 2025 season. The team announced that it will take time to evaluate the extent of the storm damage before outlining further actions.
The stadium was built with a roof designed to endure winds reaching up to 115 mph (185 kph). Opened in 1990 with a price tag of $138 million, the facility is slated to be replaced by a new $1.3 billion stadium, projected to be completed in time for the 2028 season as part of a significant redevelopment initiative in downtown St. Petersburg.
Officials confirmed that The Florida Aquarium sustained no damage from Hurricane Milton. In preparation for the storm, personnel relocated penguins and several other creatures to higher levels within the facility, transferred a rescued sea turtle from Apollo Beach to the aquarium, and moved thousands of coral specimens to more secure locations.